Hair testing device



Oct. 31, 1933. w R BE KLEY 1,932,682

HAIR TESTING DEVICE Filed April 18, 1929 29 J .97

J5 INVENTOR Hi 2012214772 R. gee/(26 4 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 31, 1933 UNITED STATES HAIR TESTING DEVICE William R. Beckley, Geneva, N. Y., assignor of one-half to Albert T. Weiss, Rochester, N. Y.

Application April 18, 1929. Serial No. 356,249

6 laims.

The present invention relates to apparatus for testing hair preparatory to its being given a socalled permanent wave. An object of the invention is the provision of means for measuring the '5 hair as to diametral size in order to classify it as coarse, medium or fine and to determine its breaking point when stretched or subjected to linear tension.

Some hair can be waved in its natural condition, other hair has to be treated before being waved, while still other hair cannot be successfully waved at all, the determining factors being its relative diametral size and ability to stretch, and a further object of this invention is to provide a device whereby these factors may be determined so that the hair dresser may readily know the solution or wavers to use and the length of time to apply heat for the best results.

A further object of the invention is to provide a '20 device of the character described which is of simple and inexpensive construction, and one which is easy to operate, functioning to a high degree of accuracy, and which is not liable to derangement.

And, a still further ,objectof the invention is to provide a hair testing device by means of which the hair may be measured as to diameter and its breaking'point determined when stretched, that is, its breaking point according to its elongation,

without having to remove the strand of hair after placing it on the apparatus.

To these ends the inventionconsists of a device as will be fully set forth in the following description and particularly defined in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrating the invention as as follows:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device with a strand of hair shown as being tested to ascertain its breaking point when stretched.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a strand of hair as being measured for diametral size.

Fig. 3 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44, Fig. 2.

And, Fig. 5 is a sectional detail on the line 5-5, Fig. 1.

In the drawing similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The numeral 1 represents a basewhich, in this instance is rectangular and formed at its four corners with supporting legs 2. At 3 and ladiecent to and in substantial alignment with a side edge of the base are binding members or hair gripping means providing what may be termed hair anchoring members, each comprising a post having a reduced threaded portion 5 to form a shoulder 6, the post 3 being threaded vertically through a boss 7 on the base while the post 4 is threaded through an index plate 8 which is guided for longitudinal movement on a pad 9 on the base by means of studs 10, these studs extending through a guiding slot 11 in the base and having heads 12 on their lower ends to engage the under side of the base and hold the plate in sliding engagement with the pad 9. One end of the sliding plate 8 is formed with a knife edge 13 which is the index or marker as the slide moves along the scale 14 marked, on one of the longitudinal or side edges of the pad 9. The plate 8 is, in this instance, L-shape and rotatably secured to the upstanding arm 15 is the reduced end 16 of a screw 17 which is threaded through a boss 18 upstanding from. the base, the screw having a head 19 whereby it is readily turned by the fingers of the operator.

Intermediate theposts 3 and 4 and slightly oilset laterally thereirom is an upstanding stop 20 which acts as an abutment for the head 21 of a plunger 22 mounted, for movement transversely of that of the slide 8, in a boss 23 formed on the base 1. The stop 20 and head 21 may be prop- .erly referred to as cooperating hair gauging members that extend outwardly or upwardly from the base 1. This plunger extends through and beyond the boss 23 and pivotally connected at 24 to its rearward extension is the short arm 25 of a lever 26 which, by a stud 27, is pivoted on the base 1 at a point in proximity to the con nection 24, the lever being arranged to slide over the finished surfaces of pads 28 and 29 on the base. As shown, the plunger 22 engages over the top of the pivot stud 27, holding the latter and the lever 26 against upward displacement, and the pivotal connection 24 comprises a pin extending upward from the stud 27 but oil center therefrom, to form the short arm 25 of the lever, and through a slot '30 in the plunger 22.

Extendingjlaterally from the stud 27 under the base is a rod comprising an arm 31 to the outer. end of which is connected one end of a helical spring 32, the other end having connection with a screw 33 threaded upwardly into the base, this screw, in this instance, being vertically aligned with the binding post 3. The action of thespring 32 is normally to hold the lever 26 with its index endof the end marked F on the scale 34 and with the plunger head 21 abutting the stop 20. And, to move the lever 26 against the action of engages when drawn taught.

the spring and toward the end marked C on the scale 34, such member is formed on one side edge with a cam surface 35 which is engaged by a cam 36 formed on a sleeve 37, the latter by means of a screw 38 being rotatably mounted on the base.

Operation of the device is as follows:

The index finger or lever 26 is moved to the C end of the scale 34by manual rotation of the cam 36 and against the action of the spring 32, this cam also functioning with the spring to hold the index finger in any position of angular adjustment, and the slide 8 is moved inwardly by turning the screw 17 until the index edge 13 registers at 0 on the scale 14. The strand of hair 39 to be tested and measured is wound about the posts 3 and 4 under the shoulders 6 and, while held taught, is clamped by such posts, one end between the shoulder 6 of the post 3 and the boss 7, and the other end between the shoulder 6 of the .post 4 and'theslide 8.

Turning of the sleeve 37 and with it .the cam 36 effects a throw of the lever 26 and also a movement of the plunger 22 toward the stop 20 until the end face of the head 21 engages the hair and presses it against such stop. It might be stated that the letters C and F on the drawing indicate coarse and fine, respectively, and that the relative arrangement and movements of the plunger. 22 and lever 26 are such that a movement of one-thousandth of an inch of the plunger will register a sixteenth of an inch on the scale 34. Also, the stud 20 is preferably formed with a fiat surface 40 which lies parallel with the end of the plunger 22 and against which the hair Thus, when the plunger 22 comes to a stop with the hair between it and the surface 40, the'strand of hair is not bent, as a kink or bruise would cause it to break more easily when tested. A stud 41 extending through a slot 42 in thebase 1, and threaded into the stop 20, is employed as a means for clamping the member 20 in place and permitting its ad-v justment to bring the flat surface 40 into proper position.

As hereinabove stated the cam 36 cooperating with the spring 32 holds the index finger in any position of angular adjustment and, it may be added, this cam controls the movement of such finger and the action of the spring so that the latter is prevented from causing movement of the plunger 22 with such'force as to bruise or break the hair against the stop 20.

Without removing the strand of hair 39 after being measured for diametral size the pointer or index finger is again swung to C on the scale 34 and, by operationof the screw 17 the sliding plate .8 is moved to the rightalong the scale 14 for the purpose of testing the hair to determine its breaking point when stretched. Should the hair breakwith the index edge 13 of the slide registered at 1 the hair can be waved and the heat should be applied for'a certain length of time. .Should the slide register at 2 when the hair breaks, the heat used in waving should be applied for a relatively greater length 'of time, and should the hair break when the slide registers at 3 or 4 the heat should be applied for still relatively greater lengths of time. Should, however, the hair break before the slide registers at 1 waving of the hair should not be attempted as it would be a failure, and the hair and scalp should be given proper treatments, such as hot .011 applications, until the slide will at least register at 1' on the scale beforethe hair breaks.

able toward and from said abutment to measure the hair for diametral size, indicating means including a scale and an index member movable along said scale for registering such measurement, and an operable connection between said index member and said plunger.

2. In a device of the character described, a base, two relatively movable binding members between which a strand of hair is held taut, a slide on-which one of said binding members is carried and which is movable from the other binding member,-a screw feed for effecting movement of the slide, indicating means actuated by the slide for designating its adjusted position, an abutment carried by said'base and interposed between said binding members, such abutment having a-flat surface, a plunger movable toward and from said abutment to measure the hair for .diametral size, means whereby the said abutment may be adjusted to bring the fiat surface at right angles to the direction of movement of said plunger, indicating means including a scale and an indexmember movable along said scale-for registering such measurement, and an operable connection between said index member and said plunger. a

3. In a device of the character described, a base, two relatively movable binding members between which a strand of hair is held taut, a slide on which one of said binding members is carried, such slide being guided for rectilinear movement on said base, a screw feed for efiecting movement of said slide, an abutment carried bysaid base and interposed between said binding members, a plunger movable toward and from said abutment to measure the hair for'diametral size, a guide on said base, in which said plunger is mounted for rectilinear movement, and a lever pivoted to said base and having a long arm and a short arm, the short arm having pivotal connection'with said plunger, and the long arm coacting with a scale for indicating said diametral measurement.

4. A machine for indicating the elongation of a-strand of hair while being stretched, the same comprising a fixed and a movable hair holding means, each having a hair gripping means thereupon, means for adjusting the movable hair holding means'to stretch the hair, indicating means associated with the movable hair holding means and actuated by movement thereof to designate the elongation of the hair while being stretched, and size indicating means comprising a fixed stop having a hair engaging surface in alignment with but located between said hair gripping means thereby effects an indication of the hair diameter except when the movable stop is forcibly held out of hair engaging position.

5; 'An apparatus for testing hair by stretching,

comprising in combination a base, a pair of spaced hair anchoring members carried by said base, one of which hair anchoring members is movable in a longitudinal direction relative to the other hair anchoring member, means for effecting relatively longitudinal movement as between said hair anchoring members, indicating means associated with said hair anchoring members whereby there can always be readily ascertained the relative longitudinal position as between said hair anchoring members, diametrical size-indicating means carried by said base and comprising hair gauging members located between said hair anchoring members and in the line of such stretched hair, one of which hair gauging members is yieldably movable in a transverse direction relative to the other hair gauging member, which hair gauging members are constructed so as to provide opposed parallel hair engaging surfaces extending outwardly from said base whereby approach position of the surfaces is determined according to the diameter thereat of the hair, and indicator means associated with said hair gauging members whereby there can be readily ascertained the diameter thereat of the hair at the start or atany stage of its elongation incident to the stretching.

6. In a machine for ascertaining the strength and diameter of a strand of hair, a base, spaced holding means for the strand of hair one of which is movable, adjusting means for moving the said movable hair holding means to effect stretching of the hair, means for indicating the breaking point, an abutment and a plunger at opposite sides of the strand of hair, a lever in engagement with the plunger to positively move therewith, a spring normally urging the plunger towards the abutment, a manually operable cam for adjusting the lever and plunger against the action of said spring and for holding them in adjusted position, and indicating means acting jointly with said lever to designate the adjusted position of the lever and plunger and the diameter of the strand of hair'disposed between the abutment and plunger.

WILLIAM R. BECKLEY. 

